Message The day when devils in thousands fled!

Mark 5:1-20 6 Points for today s message #1. The Place #2. The Demon-possessed Man #3. The Demons #4. The Villagers #5. The Outcome #6. The Place Revisited

Point 1 The Place

Mark 5:1-2 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

Luke 8:26-27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town.

Gadara Sea of Galilee Gerasa

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/gadara Gadara A city of the Decapolis eight miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee and seven miles east of the Jordan river. Situated at more than 1200 ft. above sea-level the site offers a breath-taking panorama of the surrounding region. Gadara was a typical Hellenistic city that became a center of Greek culture under the Seleucids.

www.bibleplaces.com/gerasa/ Gerasa The biblical city of Gerasa is known today as Jerash. Gerasa was one of the cities of the Roman Decapolis and is one of the best preserved cities of the Decapolis.

Point 2 The Demon-possessed Man

Matthew 8:28 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass. that way.

Mark 5:3-5 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

Foothold stronghold stranglehold

When pastimes become habitual

Singapore is 2 nd most internet addicted people in the world. Singapore Teens Bigger Gaming addicts than peers in US

Application Manage your activity lest it manages you.

Point 3 The Demons

Mark 5:6-7 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.

'worship' in Greek: to kiss, like a dog licking his master s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship. Mark 5:6 NIV When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

Mark 5:8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit."

Mark 5:10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region. Luke 8:31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned but sent them to hell, putting them in gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment

Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Hebrews 12:28-29 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Hell echoes the terrifying holiness of God Mark 9:44 Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

Hell The Cross No more mercy Cross

The Cross Wrath of God poured on Jesus Cross (On account of our sin)

Salvation via the cross

Pause for Reflection

John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Inviting Jesus as your Saviour & Lord Dear Jesus, I acknowledge I am a sinner. I acknowledge that You died to pay the penalty for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me by Your precious Blood. I want to receive You as my Saviour and Lord. Please come into my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Thank You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Mark 5:9 Then He asked him, "What is your name" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

How big is a legion? 2000 pigs 6000 men

Acts 19:15-16 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

What do you think happened to me? a. The demon screamed at me b. The demon turned violent c. The demon leaped on me Answer: None of the above

Mark 5:11-13 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12And all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." 13And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

Matthew 12:43-44 43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came. 'And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Pigs terrified, ran and drowned

Barren, desolate, without water Matthew 12:43-44 43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came. 'And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

Prisoner Freed Committed Crime again Deliverance Transformation

Ephesians 4:22 That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Ephesians 4:24 And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. Principle: Put-off & Put-on

Dry, empty & swept. Open for demonic re-entry Swept, filled & changed. No entry to demons

Point 4 The Villagers

Mark 5:14-17 14 Now those who fed the swine fled and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

Villagers deduction a. This man Jesus - he has the power to cast out demons. b. When demons go out, they will enter swine. c. The swine will go crazy, run and drown themselves. d. Hence, if Jesus stays, more demons will be cast out. e. That means more demons will get into swine. f. Then more swine will go crazy, run and die. g. So better not let this happen. Let Jesus leave this place.

No porkchop 2000 pigs a big loss No meatballs

Casting demon from slave girl Acts 16:17-19 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Point 5 The Outcome

Past narrative Mark 5:14-15 14 Now those who fed the swine fled and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

Past Narrative The one who had been demon-possessed *No more in demonic bondage *No more living in shame *No more living in hopelessness New narrative! *Given Freedom (demons gone) *Given Dignity (clothed) *Given Hope (start afresh)

New narrative New directive Mark 5:20 5:19 "Go And home he departed to your friends, and began and to tell proclaim them what in Decapolis great things all that the Jesus Lord had has done for for you, him; and and how all marvelled. He has had compassion on you."

Application Bend ahead

Gadara Gerasa Point 6 The Place Revisited

Deca: ten Polis: cities Mark 5:20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marvelled. Decapolis

Gadara From Graveyard Decapolis to mission field

That day when devils fled in the thousands was a day of Breakthrough. Change. Hope. Destiny.

Old Narrative New Narrative

Is addiction becoming our Gadara?

Gadara regrets hopelessness condemnation misery

Jesus met the man Jesus met the man at his Gadarsa at his Gadara Jesus can meet you at your Gadara

Gadara Past narrative Decapolis New narrative